Top comb mechanism of a combing machine

ABSTRACT

A top comb mechanism used for a combing machine wherein a ribbon for supporting combing needles is held tightly being sandwiched by a top comb plate and a fastener plate combined in a detachable pressure contact. The combing needles are bent towards a nip point of detaching rollers for closer approach thereto. A suitable elastic member is attached to the mechanism as a shock absorber of impact loading during combing action. Particularly designed lateral cross-sectional profile of the combing needles enables compulsive liberation of entangled fibers in the processed fiber mass.

s tei 1,446,750 2/1923 Jolly 19/233 X 2,731,677 1/1956 Dudley 19/221FOREIGN PATENTS 1,432,809 2/1966 France 19/129 16,530 12/1881 Germany19/115 699,135 10/1953 Great Britain 19/129 Primary Examiner-DorseyNewton Attorneys-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel]. Lobato ABSTRACT: A topcomb mechanism used for a combing machine wherein a ribbon forsupporting combing needles is held tightly being sandwiched by a topcomb plate and a fastener plate combined in a detachable pressurecontact The combing needles are bent towards a n'ip point of detachingrollers for closer approach thereto. A suitable elastic member isattached to the mechanism as a shock absorber of impact loading duringcombing action. Particularly designed lateral cross-sectional profile ofthe combing needles enables compulsive liberation of entangled fibers inthe processed fiber PATENTEU AUB31 l9?! SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENTEU AUBB] l9?!SHEET 3 BF 3 'lltlill "CUMlll ll/illECllilANllSll/l till AC(llvllllllllhlt'l MAQllllllhllE The present invention relates to animproved top comb mechanism of a combing machine, more particularly itrelates to a top comb mechanism wherein a ribbon having a plurality ofcombing needles of particular design is held in between a top comb plateand a fastener plate in a detachable pressurecontacting condition, thecombing needles being bent towards a downstream direction of a fiberflow on the combing machine close to detaching rollers.

in the installation of the conventional top comb mechanism, it was firstnecessary to unit a plurality of combing needles in a parallel andadequately spaced arrangement by soldering, secondly forming a ribbon bysoldering a metallic wire onto the above-united needles, thirdly to holdpoints of the combing needles of the ribbon by a suitable nippingdevice, to remove the soldered metallic wire, to seen the ribbon to atop comb plate by soldering, and lastly to release the combing needlesfrom the grip by the nipping device.

in the case of the conventional top comb mechanism installed in theabove-described manner, the soldered parts sometimes can not withstandimpact or vibrant loadings applied to the combing needles during thecombing operation due to resistance of the fibers in the fleece againstcombing actions. Besides, when any of the combing needles isaccidentally broken, it is necessary to remove the broken comb ingneedle by melting the soldered portion. This melting inevitably causesunexpected melting of the soldered portions of the neighboring combingneedles resulting in undesirable disordering of the combing needlesarrangement on the ribbon. in order to avoid this, it was necessary toreplace the complete ribbon. Further, because the installation andremoval of the ribbon required a highly specialized technique, it wasusual to ask help of persons specially skilled in the art.

Aside from the above-described problems, there has been a generalrequirement for the construction of the top comb mechanism, that is, tolocate the points of the top comb needles as adjacent to a nip point ofthe detaching rollers as possible for the purpose of effective andsufficient combing action on the processed fibers in the fleece.

One of the attempts to fulfill the requirement is given in the form of abent needle, whose point is bent towards a downstream direction of afibers flow on the combing machine. However, no method has been proposedfor manufacturing the conventional-type bent combing needles in a simpleway with low cost.

in another of the attempts, straight combing needles are disposed onto adownstream side surface of a top comb plate. In this construction,however, the combing needles are apt to receive a larger load by thedetaching action of the detaching rollers than the combing needlesdisposed to the upstream side surface of the top comb plate. Applicationof such a large load on the combing needles is liable to produceundesirable breakage of the soldered portion of the combing needles.

Further, disposition of the combing needles on the downstream sidesurface of the top comb plate interferes with bringing the top combmechanism closer to the nip point of the detaching rollers.

The well-known double-comb mechanism is another of the above-describedattempts. In this mechanism, however, it is difficult to dispose bothsides of combing needles to the top comb plate by soldering. Therefore,one-side combing needles may be affixed to the top comb plate bysoldering and another side of the combing needles must be afiirtedthereto by using suitable bonding agents. When, loading is applied tothe litter combing needles during combing action, such alfixation bybonding agents is apt to be broken.

Most of the conventional-type combing needles are provided with lateralcross sections of a circular, elliptical or square profile. Because ofsuch cross-sectional profiles, when the points of the combing needlesare put into the mass of fibers in the processed fleece, the fibers arepushed downward escaping from the effective combing action by theneedles.

Although a combing needle having a lateral cross section of a rhombicprofile is proposed, foreign materials in the fiber mass are liable topass through funnel-shaped clearances formed in between neighboringcombing needles and a complete elimination of such foreign material fromthe processed .ti ass can not be expected.

A principal on t of the present invention is to provide a top combrnccl. mam which can assure a stable and reliable combing actionwithstanding any kind of provable loading on combing needles withoutundesireable breakage of the combing needles arrnn went in the top combmechanism.

Another object or the present invention is to provide a top combmechanism wherein combing needles can be, both partly and as a whole,installed in or removed from the top comb mechanism by a simplemaintenance operation without any provable disordering of the combingneedles arrangement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a top combmechanism wherein a complete and effective combing action on theprocessed fibers mass is attained by bringing points of the combingneedles as close to the nip point of the detaching rollers as possible.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a top combmechanism whose combing needles can be manufactured by a simple mannerwith a relatively low manufacturing cost.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a top combmechanism which can hold the combing needles stably and flexibly underany combing condition with less application of soldering which oftencreates trouble in the top comb mechanism of the, conventional types.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a top combmechanism which can assure complete elimination of foreign materialsfrom the processed fiber mass together with effective prevention of theescape of fibers in the fleece from the combing needles resultinginsufficient and effective cleaning and combing action of the combingmachine.

ln conformity to the above-described objects, the top comb mechanism ofthe present invention comprises a ribbon for supporting a plurality ofcombing needles in a given arrangement, a top comb plate and a fastenerplate for sandwiching the ribbon in a detachable pressure contact.Combination of the above-described three members can be realized by asuitable fastening means such as screws. Little soldering operation isrequired for assembling and combining the members together anddisassembling of the combination can be done only by releasing thefastening means without any difficulty in the operation.

By making the fastener plate from suitable elastic material, the topcomb mechanism can absorb impact loadings or shocks applied to thecombing needles during the combing action. Such a shock-absorbing effectcan also be provided by inserting a suitable thin elastic layer inbetween the fastener plate and the top comb plate.

Points of the combing needles may be bent towards a downstream directionof a fiber flow on the combing machine so as to be located close to anip point ofthe detaching rollers.

A cross-sectional profile of the combing needles may be so selected asto differ from the conventional circular, elliptical, or square ones.Because of a particular cross-sectlonal profile of the combing needlesas described later, provable escaping tendency of the processing fibersfrom the combing needles can be effectively prevented and erroneouspassing clearance between neighboring combing needles. can beeffectively prevented, also.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become inapparent from the ensuing descriptions, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings; wherein lFlG. 1A is a perspective view of anembodiment of a combing needle usable for the top comb mechanism of thepresent invention, FIG. RE is a perspective view of a modification ofthe combing needle shown in FIG. 1A,

FIG. 2 is a perspective representation for showing a manufacturing ofthe combing needles shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B from a shaped plate,

FIGS. 3A and 3B are front and side views of a ribbon containing thecombing needles shown in FIGS. 1A or 13,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fastener plate usable for the top combmechanism of the present invention in combination with the ribbon shownin FIGS. 3A and 38,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a top comb plate adapted for combinationwith the fastener plate shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a partly sectional side view of the top comb plate shown inFIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is partly sectional side view of the top comb mechanism of theinvention,

FIGS. 8A and 8B are plan and side views of another embodiment of thecombing needles usable for the top comb mechanism of the presentinvention, respectively,

FIGS. 9A and 9B are explanatory drawings for showing combing action ofthe combing needles shown in FIGS. 8A and 88,

FIG. 10 is a skeleton sketch of the top comb mechanism of the presentinvention disposed in an ordinary combing machine.

Referring to FIG. 1A, an embodiment of the combing needle of the presentinvention is shown. A combing needle 1 is I composed of an upper portion1a adapted for being held by a needle bed, a point portion lb adaptedfor combing fibers and a horizontal portion 1c for connecting the twoportions la and lb. When required, one surface of the point portion lbmay be sharpened as shown in FIG. 1B for the purpose of a better combingaction. Although the combing needle 1 is shown in the drawings withenlarged dimensions for the purpose of better understanding, the actualcombing needle 1 is usually provided with a thickness which is thin butthick enough to withstand loading by the combing action. The combingneedle 1 of this structure can be easily produced merely by slicing ashaped plate 2 shown in FIG. 2 at a given width into individualplate-shaped pieces as shown with dotted lines in the drawing. It willbe well understood by persons skilled in the art that this manufacturingmethod of the bent combing needles 1 of the presentinvention can becarried out far more easily than the conventional manner ofmanufacturing wherein the combing needles are formed by bending a rod isdesired. In case the combing needle 1 shown in FIG. 1B is required, theshaped plate 2 may be milled along the dotted lines in the drawing onthe surface 2a prior to slicing the shaped plate 2 into plateshapedpieces.

Next, a plurality of thus formed combing needles 1 are disposed at theupper portions 1a thereof to a needle bed 3 in a parallel-spacedarrangement forming a ribbon 4 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Thisdisposition of the combing needles can be done by any of the knownmethods such is soldering or bonding by suitable bonding agents. In theabove-described arrangement of the ribbon, it is advisable to make thedownstream side surfaces of the point portions lb of the combing needles1 approximately parallel to a downstream side surface of the needle bed3. It is also advisable to divide the ribbon 4 into several groups. Bydoing this, when any of the combing needles is worn out or broken byrepeating combing actions or combing actions under severe conditions,replacement of the combing needles can be done by replacing only thatgroup of the ribbon whereto the broken or worn out combing needlesbelong.

Referring to FIG. 4, an embodiment of the fastener plate of the presentinvention is shown in a condition assembled with the above-describedribbon 4. The fastener plate 5 is so constructed as to be receptive ofthe upper portion of the ribbon 4 at its lower portion. In theembodiment shown in the drawing, the fastener plate 5 is provided with alower lateral recess 6 for receiving the upper portions 12 of thecombing needles I and a bottom portion 7 adapted for partly supportingthe point portions 1b of the combing needles I. On the surface of thefastener plate 5 receiving the ribbon 4, there are located more than oneprotuberance 8 having threaded recesses 9. The protuberances 8 arelocated spacedly and laterally on the surface above the recess 6 of theplate 5 receptive of the ribbon 4.

A top comb plate 11 adapted for combination with the ribbon 4 and thefastener plate 5 is shown in FIG. 5, wherein the top comb plate 11 isprovided with a stepped bottom portion 12 adapted for receiving theupper portion of the ribbon 4. Above this stepped bottom portion, morethan one perforation 13 is formed through the top comb plate 11. As theperforations 13 are adapted, as is later described in detail, forreceiving the protuberances 8 of the fastener plate 5, the number andlocation of the perforation should be so selected as to conform to thoseof the protuberances 8 in a combined arrangement of the fastener plate 5with the top comb plate 1 l.

A detailed view of the perforation 13 is shown in FIG. 6, wherein theperforation 13 is composed of a perforation 13a of smaller diameter anda perforation 13b of larger diameter connected to the small perforation13a. The reason for the difference in the perforation diameters will bemade clear in the ensuing description.

Referring to FIG. 7, a combined arrangement of the ribbon 4 with the topcomb plate 11 and the fastener plate 5 is shown. In this combinedarrangement, the fastener plate 5 is assembled with the top comb plate 11 sandwiching the ribbon 4. The protuberances 8 of the fastener plate 5are inserted into the corresponding small diameter perforations 13a ofthe top comb plate 11. From the side of the large diameter perforations13b, screws 14 are threaded into the screwed recesses 9 of theprotuberances 8 for the fast combination of the two plates 5 and 11. Thedimensions of the screw 14 should be so selected that the diameter ofthe head 14a of the screw 14 is at least larger than the diameter of thesmall diameter perforation 130, that the thickness of the head 14a doesnot exceed the depth of the large diameter perforation 13b and that thelength of the screwed portion 14b of the screw 14 does not exceed thedepth of the receiving screwed recesses 9.

The top comb mechanism of the present invention is disposed on thecombing machine with its top comb plate side facing the detachingrollers, that is the offset of the lower por tion of the combing needlerelative to the upper portion is in a direction downstream of the fiberflow on the combing machine.

The above-described ribbon-holding mechanism of the present invention isapplicable not only to bent needles but also to straight combing needleswith small mechanical modifications. Further, the above-describedheld-fast combination of the two plates 5 and 11 can be also attained byforming the protuberances 8 on the top comb plate 11 and theperforations 13 though the fastener plate. Any type of a known fasteningmechanism can be applied to the combination of the two plates 5 and 11so far as it assures a tight-holding condition of the ribbon 4sandwiched by the two plates 5 and 11.

Disassembling of the top comb mechanism can be easily done only byloosening the screw 14 and drawing out the protuberances 8 from theperforations 13 No trouble exists in the replacement of the wornout orbroken combing needles.

As is well known, impact loadings or shocks are often unexpectedlyapplied to the combing needles during their combing actions. Loading ofthis nature oftentimes causes breakage of the mechanism holding thecombing needles. So, it is desirable to absorb such a loading for theprotection of the machine parts related to the combing needles.

In the construction of the top comb mechanism of the present invention,this shock-absorbing function can be presented by using the fastenerplate 5 made up of elastic materials. For this purpose, it is alsoadvisable to insert an elastic layer 25 in between the fastener plate 5and the top comb plate 11.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, another embodiment of the combing needle 1usable for the top comb mechanism of the present invention is shown. Inthis embodiment, the point portion lb of the combing needle l iscomposed of three portions 101, 102 and M13. The portion llllll has alateral cross section of a square profile and is connected to thehorizontal portion 10. The portion 102 forming a succession of theportion Mill is provided with a lateral cross section of trapezoidprofile with its shorter side surface converging towards the portion1W3. From the apex of the converging shorter side surface the portion103 starts and is provided with a cross section of a triangular profile.

The combing needles 1 thus shaped are disposed in the top comb mechanismof the present invention in such a manner that, when the combing needlespenetrate the fiber mass flowing toward a direction shown with arrows inlFlGS. 9A and 9B, the apex of the triangular profile of the portion W3is directed towards the flowing direction of the fiber mass as shown inFIG. 9A and the shorter side surface of the portion ill 2 is directed inthe same direction as shown in FlG. @B.

Because of the above-described particular design of the combing needlesthe clearances between the neighboring combing needles becomes smalleras they approach the portions 102 and Ml. Consequently, the combingneedles ll can penetrate deeply into the fiber mass due to the forwardlysharpened shape of the portion W3 while the liberation of in dividualfibers from random entanglement in the fiber mass can be effectivelyaccomplished because of the progressively narrow clearance between theneighboring combing needles l in the region of the portion W2.

Referring to FIG. lit), the top comb mechanism lllllll of the presentinvention is shown in a condition disposed in between the. nippermechanism lllll and the detaching roller mechanism M2 on an ordinarycombing machine. in this arrangement, either the fastener plate and thenipper plate can be arranged facing the detaching roller mechanism llll2so far as the needles l are biased towards the detaching rollermechanism i112. The fibers llllll are combed by the top comb mechanismill) of the present invention while being trans ported form the nippermechanism llllll towards the detaching roller mechanism 11112 as isshown with arrows in the drawing.

What is claimed is:

ll. An improved top comb mechanism of a combing machine, comprising aribbon including a needle bed and a plurality of combing needleslaterally disposed on said needle bed in a parallel-spaced arrangement,a laterally extending top comb plate with its lower portion contactingone surface of an upper portion of said ribbon, a laterally extendingfastener plate with its lower portion contacting another surface of saidupper portion of said ribbon in an arrangement sandwiching said upperportion of said ribbon with said top comb plate and means for securingsaid top comb plate with said fastener plate in a detachable pressurecontact each said combing needle having an upward portion the lateralcross section of which is of trapezoid profile with its shorter sidesurface directed downstream of the fiber flow on said combing machineand a point portion the lateral cross section of which is of triangularprofile with one apex directed downstream of said fiber flow on saidcombing machine.

An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidsecuring means is one or more screws having heads and threaded portionsprotruding from said head.

An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidfastener plate is provided with more than one protuberance havingthreaded recesses receptive of said threaded potions of said screws andlocated spacedly and laterally on a surface thereof adapted for contactwith said top comb plate, said top comb plate being provided with morethan one laterally and spacedly located perforation receptive of saidprotuberances of said fastener plate and of said heads of said screws.

An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim 1,

' wherein said fastener plate is made of'an elastic material.

5. An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim ll, furthercomprising an elastic layer inserted in between said top comb plate andsaid fastener late.

. An improved top comb mec anism as claimed in claim 1,

wherein each said combing needle includes an upper portion beingdisposed on said needle bed and a point portion downwardly extendingfrom said upper portion in a condition offset in a downstream directionof a fiber flow on said combing machine, said point portion isapproximately parallel to a downstream side surface of said needlebed,and a lateral cross section of said needle is of a noncircularprofile.

"7. An improved top comb mechanism of a combing machine comprising aplurality of like needles of noncircular cross section each having alower pointed portion, an upper portion offset from said lower portionand a transverse portion connecting said lower and upper portions andforming a shoulder disposed at an angle to said upper and lowerportions, a needle bar on which said needles are assembled inspaced-apart relation, said needle bar being received in the anglebetween said upper portion and said shoulder and engaging said upperportion and said transverse portion of each said needle, means bondingsaid needles to said needle bar, a top comb plate having along alongitudinal lower edge a recess receiving said needle bar with theneedles bonded thereto, a fastener plate having spaced from alongitudinal lower edge a channel receiving said upper portions of saidneedles and having a bottom lip portion that extends under saidtransverse portions of the needles and engages adjacent parts of saidlower portions of the needles, and securing means for drawing saidplates together to clamp the assembled needles and needle bar betweenthem.

55. An improved top comb mechanism according to claim 7, wherein onesaid plates has internally threaded hollow protuberances extending inthe direction of the other plate and said other plate has perforationsreceiving said protuberances, said securing means comprising screwsextending through said perforations and screwed into said internallythreaded protuberances.

1. An improved top comb mechanism of a combing machine, comprising aribbon including a needle bed and a plurality of combing needleslaterally disposed on said needle bed in A parallel-spaced arrangement,a laterally extending top comb plate with its lower portion contactingone surface of an upper portion of said ribbon, a laterally extendingfastener plate with its lower portion contacting another surface of saidupper portion of said ribbon in an arrangement sandwiching said upperportion of said ribbon with said top comb plate and means for securingsaid top comb plate with said fastener plate in a detachable pressurecontact each said combing needle having an upward portion the lateralcross section of which is of trapezoid profile with its shorter sidesurface directed downstream of the fiber flow on said combing machineand a point portion the lateral cross section of which is of triangularprofile with one apex directed downstream of said fiber flow on saidcombing machine.
 2. An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim1, wherein said securing means is one or more screws having heads andthreaded portions protruding from said head.
 3. An improved top combmechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fastener plate is providedwith more than one protuberance having threaded recesses receptive ofsaid threaded potions of said screws and located spacedly and laterallyon a surface thereof adapted for contact with said top comb plate, saidtop comb plate being provided with more than one laterally and spacedlylocated perforation receptive of said protuberances of said fastenerplate and of said heads of said screws.
 4. An improved top combmechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastener plate is made ofan elastic material.
 5. An improved top comb mechanism as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising an elastic layer inserted in between saidtop comb plate and said fastener plate.
 6. An improved top combmechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said combing needleincludes an upper portion being disposed on said needle bed and a pointportion downwardly extending from said upper portion in a conditionoffset in a downstream direction of a fiber flow on said combingmachine, said point portion is approximately parallel to a downstreamside surface of said needle bed, and a lateral cross section of saidneedle is of a noncircular profile.
 7. An improved top comb mechanism ofa combing machine comprising a plurality of like needles of noncircularcross section each having a lower pointed portion, an upper portionoffset from said lower portion and a transverse portion connecting saidlower and upper portions and forming a shoulder disposed at an angle tosaid upper and lower portions, a needle bar on which said needles areassembled in spaced-apart relation, said needle bar being received inthe angle between said upper portion and said shoulder and engaging saidupper portion and said transverse portion of each said needle, meansbonding said needles to said needle bar, a top comb plate having along alongitudinal lower edge a recess receiving said needle bar with theneedles bonded thereto, a fastener plate having spaced from alongitudinal lower edge a channel receiving said upper portions of saidneedles and having a bottom lip portion that extends under saidtransverse portions of the needles and engages adjacent parts of saidlower portions of the needles, and securing means for drawing saidplates together to clamp the assembled needles and needle bar betweenthem.
 8. An improved top comb mechanism according to claim 7, whereinone said plates has internally threaded hollow protuberances extendingin the direction of the other plate and said other plate hasperforations receiving said protuberances, said securing meanscomprising screws extending through said perforations and screwed intosaid internally threaded protuberances.